| Story and Photos by Drew Moody
Graduates, family, friends and teachers gathered at the Alan B. Mollohan Community Center Thursday evening for a reception honoring Glenville State College's December 2007 graduates. The semester officially ended Friday; finals week begins Monday.
It will be the last time many of them see each other until next year's Spring graduation ceremonies - if they return to participate.
Despite the recent weather and poor driving conditions many parents and family members, including former Lady Pioneer Casey Taylor's and Rebecca Conrad's traveled long distances so they could share the evening.
Stephan Caldwell, left, of Hurricane, has a surveying job waiting
upon his graduation. Jeremy Brown's summer job success led to
an opportunity to return for a second degree. Kristen Huffman,
center, a senior at Nicholas County High School, expects to attend GSC next year.
Some graduates have jobs waiting for them, the result of very successful summer internships. Stephan Caldwell, of Hurricane, will begin working for at a Kanawha County engineering firm as a surveyor.
Jeremy Brown's summer job in Nicholas County brought an opportunity to gain forestry experience while getting that degree, but also work-related contacts securing additional help allowing him to return for a second degree in land surveying.
Rebecca Conrad (left) graduating with a degree in criminal justice, will soon be an official Gilmer County citizen as her local internship with Unity Services earned her a position there.
The December graduates are a diverse group, and include three who shared professional success while students at Glenville State College - that being three of the four founding members of the bluegrass band Mountain Fury.
A few graduates are still unsure of what their next step will be. And, considering their relatively youthful age, at times admit to feeling pressured to make some final "magical decision" about the rest of their life.
No matter the case, all seemed happy to have concluded this part of their journey.
Glenville State College President Peter Barr, along with several teachers offered brief congratulatory remarks to the group.
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